Knot tier



A. SHORTLAND KNOT TIER 5 Shees-Sheet 1 Inventor May ll, 1954 Filed June 25, 1952 G Glmmlm@ m May 11, 1954 A. sHoRTLAND KNOT TIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1952 I nventor May 11, 1954 A. sHoRTLAND KNOT TIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 23, 1952 Inventor @uw shawn? May 11, 1954 A. sHoRTLAND KNOT TIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 25,` 1952 May 1l, `1954 A. sHoRTLAND KNQT TIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 25, 1952 Patented May l1, 1954 y y A 2,578,229

2,678,229 KNor 'rma Arthur Shortland, Leicester, England, assignor to Mellor Bromley & Co. Limited, Leicester, England, a British company Application June 23, 1952, Serial No. 295,043

Claims priority, application Great Britain June 25, 1951 16 Claims.

This invention relates to knot-tying devices, and has reference particularly to such devices of the class adapted to tie or fasten together, mechanically, either initially separate slender and exible bodies, or the opposite ends or a single body of this character.

Of the bodies capable of being knotted by the device of this invention may be quoted, by way of example, textile yarns or threads and other like filaments, twine, thin cords, and so on. For the sake of convenience in the following further description, however, the simple term yarns will be used in a generic sense to cover any appropriate slender and exible bodies.

Knot-tying devices of this invention are principally intended for use in tying or fastening together ends of yarns being dealt with in textile machinery such, for instance, as spinning or winding machines, knitting machines, weaving looms and the like. Y

For knotting together yarns being dealt with in textile machinery as aforesaid it has heretofore been customary to use a so-called weavers knotter of the rotary bill type, i. e. a device incorporating, inter alia, a tying head including a rotary bill about which the knot is formed, and means for stripping the knot from the bill. Knotters of this type, however, suffer from the disadvantage that knots produced thereby tend to slip-especially when particularly springy, smooth and lively yarns such as mohair, crossbred, worsteds and smooth synthetic yarns are tied together. practically impossible to tie certain of these yarns together into a knot, mechanically, with a conventional knot-tying device.

The object of the present invention is to provide a knot-tying device adapted to function on what is believed to be a novel principle and in such a way as to tie together, inl knots which will not slip, the most intractible of textile yarns or yarn ends. l

The knot-tying device constituting this invention comprises, in combination, a rbody including spaced sides slotted to receive yarn ends to'be tied together, a hooked instrument which is both reciprocable and turnable about its axis within the body for engaging the yarn ends and forming the same into a knot, severing means in the bred, worsteds and smooth synthetic yarns are formed knot, means for pulling the yarn ends at opposite sides ofthe said knot for tightening the latter, and a manually operable member for initiating conjoint actuation of the hooked in- In fact, it has previously been l strument and the associated yarn severing and tightening means.

The new or improved knot-tying device may advantageously also include means for holding the yarn ends throughout a knot-tying operation. These means may be included in the aforementioned means for pulling the yarn ends to tighten a formed knot, as will be hereinafter described.

The new or improved knot-tying device is principally intended for use in forming knots of the character described in co-pending Application Serial No. 295,042 dated June 23, 1952. Broadly considered, such a knot, which serves to tie together at least two yarn ends, includes the steps Volf (a) making at least one loop of one or both of the said ends with the aid of a hooked instrument, (b) by means of this instrument drawing through the said vloop either a further single loop, or the first of a plurality of successively interengaged loops, of either or both of the yarn ends, and (c) so manipulating the said instrument as to engage either or both of the yarn ends and pull the same through the further single loop, or the last of the plurality of the said interengaged loops, as the case may be,

The hooked instrument may conveniently be in the form of a knitting needle, crochet hook or the like adapted to inter-knit or similarly interlace the yarn ends incorporated in a knot.

Such an instrument may, for instance, and as shown in the accompanying drawings, consist of a conventional knitting needle of the latch type.

In any event, the hooked instrument is provided with a shank suitably mounted in the body of the device and is adapted to be turned to any desired extent about its longitudinal axis suchwise as to twist a yarn or yarns engaged by the instrument and form a loop. The extent of this turning movement may vary considerably according to the acount of twist to be imparted to an engaged yarn or yarns. Thus, for instance, the instrument may be turned through half or a larger fraction of a complete revolution, through one revolution, through a little more than one revolution or even through two or more complete revolutions. n

Usually there will be two suitably spaced pairs of slots formed in the sides of the body, one to receive one yarn end and the other similarly to receive another yarn end. Yarn ends placed in the slots extend laterally across the device, i. e. transversely with respect to the hooked instrument. Y

The new or improved knot-tying device will usually be made in a form in which it can be grasped in and secured upon the operators hand or attached to a belt or the like Worn by the operator.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and readily carried'intopractical effect, one specific constructional form ofl the improved knot-tying device and the manner of operation of the same in the production ofrza knot will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a plan view of .the,.device,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the same taken on the line II-II of Figure 1,

Figure 3 illustrates an enlarged view of one of the sides of the device, and mechanism at that side as seen in the direction of the arrow Ain Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail side view` of a portion of the device showing, more particularly,`

the means whereby a tied knot is finally tightened,

Figure 5 is an end View of thefdeviceas seen in thedirection of the arrowB in "Figure 4,'- and Figures 6-13 are enlarged vdetail perspective views illustrating, in successive stages, the-manner in which the device functions to tie together two yarn ends.

For the sake of clarityall of the iiguresare drawn more than full-scale.

Referring .to Figures 1-5, it will beseen that body of the device comprises two'flat-'side plates I and 2 `which are spaced apart parallel to each other and connecte-d by comparatively thick front and rear cross members 3v and# respectively. The front member 3 is made deeper than the rearmember 4 and so increases the rigidity of the structure. 'The side plates I4 and 2, moreover, arev drilled at appropriate points with pairs of alignedholes aadpted to kreceive the ends of transverse spindles 6, 1,2 8,'9 and' I0 upon which working components of the device are mounted to turn as will be hereinafter described. The ends of the transverse spindles, which extend right through 4the holes are reduced in diameter and Screw-threaded to receive securing nuts I I. In this way shoulders are produced on 'saidspindlea adjoining their screwthreaded end portions, andthe side plates I and 2 are clamped up tightly to `these shoulders by means of the-nuts I I, thereby further enhancing the rigidity'of ythe structure.

In this constructionalvexample, :the hooked instrument is in the form of a knittingneedle I2 having a hook I3 andan associated pivoted latch Ill. The `shank I5 of theknitting needle 2 is in Vthe form-ofan elongated'barrel -of circular shape in cross-section which extends freely through a bearing hole 3a- Vin the front cross member 3. In the rear cross-member Il is secured one end of a nxedA guide pin-P which extends forwardly, -parallel to the' sidefplates IV and 2, and engages in a central bore a formed inthe barrel-like needleshank l5. .'The shank is accordingly free both .tobe m-ovedzback and forth axially through, and to be turned'about'its axis within, the bearing hole 3a,- beingguided'during such movements by the fixed guide pin P. To enable thel knitting needle *I2 tocbe botherivanced and retracted longitudinally Y as :well as turned about itslongitudinalA axis, vthe-'needle shank l5` is, as shown in 4Figures l2,:3'and 5, formed from end to end ubothxwithr-ar series of equi-distantly spaced `annular vgrooves-Iii and intervening circular racklike teeth I7 :arranged f vdisposed embossments.

the pinions II!y and 2I to produce the foregoing conjoint movements of the knitting needle are vfeifected' from rotary cams 22 and 23 through Y,the medium ofintermediate connections presently to be described. These cams are adapted to to turn freely about the said spindle.

lon a thumb-operable actuating lever 21.

Iturntogethenabout the axis of the transverse `:spindle 5 for which purpose they are fixed to,

`tuating lever 2l, moreover, is controlled by a helically coiled torsion spring 30V which surrounds the boss 29 and has its opposite-ends arranged `in contactwith fthe upper edge/of the lever and the underside'of a pin 3| fixed vin the side plate I. Accordingly, each time the porvtion 2Iai1of the actuating lever 21 isvdepressed by the operators thumb, the toothed `quadrant 23 will be turned yclockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, against the action of thespring 33, 'with` the result that the pinion 25 and hence also the'two cams 22 and 23 will be rotatedianticlockwisetothe extent of one revolution-in the'specic example illustrated. Upon releasezof the actuat- .ing lever, thewhole. mechanism, includingL the cams 22 and 23, will automaticallyii'dle back to its starting position under the spring action.

' The needle 'shank I5vis moved back and forth,

.in accordance-.with knotting requirements, by

causing appropriate oscillation of the vpinion I8. vIn .this connection it will be noted," from a -consideration of Figures '1' and`2, that integral Vwith the pinion I8 there is a smaller-pinion 3l V'which is arranged in mesh with a toothed portion 32a vorar-curved lever 32. /Therear end of this lever .-is bossed at 33 and mounted to turn freely about the fixedl transverse spindles. At ra location in zfront ofthe latter-the lever 32 4isl formed with a forwardly projectingnose `32h yin which -is formed an open-ended sl-ot" 34. In this slot is engaged one end :o'fa pin 35` carried by-a' lever 36 which is vbossed .at 31 and mounted vto, turn about thexedztransverse spindle l. "The oppon sitelend-.of vthe pin 35 is engaged `in an appropriately profiled endless track 38 formed vin "the inner face of the rotary cam 22.v As `will be seenin Figure 1, lthe cam 22 is positioned closely adjacent to the side plate I. Thus, eachA time this, cam is rotated, `the lever 36 vwillbe turned up and down to rock the curved lever -32 -and so oscillatetheA pinions 3lv and I8 withthe result aforesaid.

The necessary turning movements of the needle shank I5 about its axis, conjointly with reciprocation thereof, are Veffected byappropriate operation of the pinion 2| which is mounted for turning movement about a: stub axle 39 screwed into the frontfcross member" 3. As depictedy in Figures 3 and 5, this pinion, which meshes with the teeth 20, is also arranged in mesh with a small gear 40 mounted to turn upon a further stub axle 4I screwed into the front cross member 3. Mounted to turn together with the gear is a concentric pinion 42 which, in turn, is arranged in mesh with a toothed arcuate portion 43a at the leading end of a relatively long pivoted lever 43. The arcuate portion 43a extends laterally from the lever 43 to enable it properly to mesh with the pinion 62 which is disposed in a plane at right angles to that of the said lever. At its opposite end the lever 43 is provided with a boss 44 mounted to turn about the xed transverse spindle 9. In front of this spindle the lever 43 is formed with a protuberant nose 43h which is slotted at 45 (Figure 3) to receive one end of a pin 46 carried by the outer end of a lever s1 pivotally mounted on the transverse spindle 1. A portion 43e of the lever 43 is upwardly arched, as depicted in Figure 3, to avoid the spindle 1.

The end of the pin 46 remote from the lever d3 projects through the associated lever 41 into an appropriately profiled endless track 48 formed in the opposed face of the rotary cam 23. This latter cam is located closely adjacent to the side plate 2. Here again, the construction and operation of the device is such that as the cam 23 revolves, the lever 41 will be moved up and down at the dictates of the track d8, thereb7 rocking the lever 43 and effecting oscillation of the pin 2I through the medium of the toothed arcuate portion 34a, the pinion 42 and the gear 4Q.

To receive the yarn ends to be engaged, and tied together, by the needle I2, the upper edges of the side plates I and 2 have formed therein pairs of slots or recesses 49 `and 59 respectively. Yarn ends, such as Y and Y1 (Figures 6-13) placed in these slots or recesses extend laterally across the device, parallel to each other. On the outer side of, and spaced from, the side plate I there is a relatively thin and small guard plate 5I (see Figures 1 and 2) the lower straight edge 5Ia of which is disposed just above the bottoms of the adjacent slots or recesses 49. The side edges 5Ib of the guard plate 5i are curved and upwardly convergent. The truncated portion of the side plate! located between the slots or recesses 49 is bent out of the plane of the outer face of the said plate and has the guard plate 5I attached thereto, e. g. by welding. Accordingly, whenever yarn ends Y and Y1 are being placed in position across the device in readiness for tying, they are guided into the bottoms of the slots or recesses 49 in the side plate I by means of the curved edges 5Ib of the guard plate 5l and are thereupon directed beneath'the straight edge 5Ia by means of which they are prevented from lifting and coming adrift from these slots or recesses.

On the outer side of the side plate 2 there is provided a pivoted device G comprising two pairs of spring-influenced gripping jaws 52, 53 between which extend the yarn ends Y and Y1 placed in the slots or recesses 50 in the said side plate. rlhe outer jaws 52 of the two pairs are constituted by parallel arms which are pivotally mounted at their lower ends upon a spindle 511- and are rigidly connected at their rear edges b-y a back'plate 55. The lower portion of the plate 55 is extended and bent inwards at right angles to the jaws 52 so as to provide an inwardly directed lug 55a (see Figure 5) adapted to be acted upon by the means and for the purpose hereinafter to be described. The spindle 54 is secured at its opposite ends in a pair of ears 56 which are bent out from the material of the side plate 2. In this connection, the lug 55a extends through and works in the rectangular openingY 51 (Figure 4) produced in the side plate 2 by reason of bending out therefrom the spaced ears 56. The jaws 52, the connecting back plate 55 and its extension 55a may conveniently be bent to shape from an initially. flat sheet metal blank. The

jaws 52 are also connected by a spindle 58, and

slidably engaged with the two spindles 54 and 58 are the inner jaws 53 of the two pairs. The said inner jaws are pressed up against the inner sides yof the companion outer jaws 52 by means ofza compression spring 59 which, as illustrated in Figure 4, is arranged to surround the upper spindle 58 with its opposite ends in contact with the opposing faces of the inner jaws. As depicted more clearly in Figure 4, the upper end portions 52a and 53a of the inner and outer gripping jaws 52 and 53 of each pair are relatively splayed into V form to correspond with the shaping of the dared slots or recesses 50. Accordingly, yarn ends pulled down into the bottoms of these slots or recesses will be engaged between and firmly held by the gripping jaws.

For cutting the yarn ends Y and Y1 at the appropriate stage in a knot-tying operation, there is provided, in this particular example, a cutter element 60 which is pivotally mounted at 6I on and adjacent to the inner face of the side plate I. As shown more clearly in Figures 1 and 2, the element 66 is provided with two upstanding yarn-shearing blades 62 and 63 having sharpened leading edges adapted to co-operate with relevant edges of the adjacently disposed slots or recesses 49. The tail 60a of the cutter element 5d is cranked outwardly from the side plate I and is slotted at 50h to receive a pin P projecting laterally from the free end of one arm 63a of a two-armed actuating lever 63. This lever is fulcrumed at 64 (see Figure 2), and the end of its other arm 63h is formed with a rounded nose arranged in contact with the peripheral edge of the rotary cam 22. This edge is formed with a lobe 65 so disposed that each time the cam 22 is turned through a complete revolution, the lever 63 will be rocked as a consequence of which the arm 63a will be raised to impart an operative stroke to the cutter element 60.

The lever 63 is controlled by a tension spring 66 arranged as shown in Figure 2.

For finally tightening a knot, both of the yarn lends tied together by manipulation of the needle I2 are simultaneously pulled in a direction away from the side plate 2. This tightening of the formed knot is eiected by swinging the gripper device G outwardly, to the extent indicated by chain lines in Figure 5, at the termination of the knot-producing cycle. Conveniently for this purpose there is provided a further twoarmed lever 61 the two arms 51a and 61h of which are separated laterally by a boss 68 mounted to turnV about the xed transverse spindle I 9 (see Figure 5). The operative end of the arm 61a is adapted for engagement with the underside of the aforementioned lug 55e, whilst the tail end of the other arm 6112 is furnished with a laterally extending pin 69 arranged in the path of the toothed quadrant 26, all as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Thus, each time the portion 21a of the actuating lever 21 is fully depressed, the leading enolof the quadrant 26, as the latter approaches the-end of its stroke, will act on the pin 69 thereby depressing vthe arm 61h and raising the arm agora-229 61a" withV the result that` the'gripper device G will be positively-swung outwards. Thefdevice G islinfluenced bya torsion 4spring 'E0 Which'is arranged' to surround the spindle 54, with its opposite ends bearing against the side plate 2 and the-device G respectively. Accordingly, this device is swung outwards against the action of the spring S210 and is returned to its original position by the saidspring Whenever the automatic lever 21 is released.

.'Ifheupstanding portion of the side plate 2 located between the two flared slots or recesses '5U therein is depressed suchwise as to produce on rtheinner face of this plate a protuberance 'II adapted to facilitate the tightening of aA knot. A formed knot from which the needle I2 has been finally disengaged is pulled by the outwardly swinging gripper device G onto the protuberance 1I which supports the knot whilst the yarn ends Y and Y1 are being pulled by the grippers. As w'ili be appreciated, the portions of the said ends immediately adjoining the knot extend over the rounded surface or the protuberance 'II and it is thiswhich facilitates the tightening.

The manner in which the device just described functions to tie together the tivo yarn ends Y and Y1r into a knot K will now be described With reference to Figures 6-13. First the two ends are placed transversely across the device and position in the pairs oi slots or recesses Il@ and 5D. As a consequence, the said yarn ends become located beneath the edge 5 Ia of the guard plate 5I and are also drawn into and firmly held by the pairs of gripping jaws 52 and 53. The actuating lever 21 is 'then depressed, so that the knitting needle I2 advances, by an appropriate turning movement oi the pinion I8 and hence also of the shank i5 dictated by the shape of the track 38 in the cam 22, to engage and take into its hook I 3 the yarn end Y as shown in Figure 6. the needle turns about its longitudinal axis, in 'the direction of the arrow C to the extent of half a revolution, so as to produce a loop L closed by a partial twist T in the engaged yarn end Y (see Figure 7). fected by the rotary cam 23 through the medium of the hereinbefore described intermediate connections, including the pinion 2i Ymeshing with the' needle shank i5. At this stage, the needle I2, with its hook I3 inverted and its latch I4 open, is advanced right through the closed loop L in the direction of the arrow D to the extent that vthe hook is engaged over the other yarn end Y1 as depicted in Figure 8. Next, the needle is retracted by the cam 22 in the direction of the arrow E (Figure 9) so as to draw a loop L of the yarn end Y1 through the closed loop L of the yarn end Y; this action closes the latchv I4. With its hook I3 still inverted, the needle I2 is then advanced again, as illustrated in Figure 10, as a consequence of which the latch I4 isopened. At the same time the needle shank I5 is turned about its longitudinal axis by the cam 23 to the extent of half a revolution in the direction of the arrow F for the purpose of positioning the needle hook I3 for subsequent engagement with the portions g/ and y1 oi both of the yarn ends Y and Y1 respectively. rlhe needle I2 is again retracted, by means of the cam 2E, so that it takes into its open hook I3 first the portion 'y1 (Figure 1l) and then the portion y and draws these portions right through the loopL. ln Figure 12, vthe portions yand y1 oi' the yarn ends Y and Y1 are shown in the course ofibeing vpulled through the loop L'. Atthis juncture, moreover, and also-as shown in Thereupon This turning motion of the needle is ef- Figure 12, the' cutter'V element "6u is' 'turned forwardly about 'itsrpivot'BI so` that the shearing bladestz and 63 function tof'cut the portions y and y1 of the twoyarn ends fairly close to the interengaged loops. "Duringall of thev `foregoing stages the yarn ends Y and Y1 are iirmly heldbythe gripper device G. But after the portions ly'an'd y1 of the yarn ends have been cut and pulled through the loop L', the gripper device Gi is swung `outwardly as depicted in Figurer 13 to Ytighten the completed knotV K.

The entire sequence justdescribed takes place as the result of a single movement of the actuating lever 2l' againstV the action of the torsion spring 30. At the termination of this sequence, the actuating lever' 21 is released andall of the C20-operating components ofthe device are restored to their original positions bythe spring 30.

As illustrated in 'Figure 4, there' is secured to the side plates I and 2 a component 'I2 from which depends a portion 'I3 for association with a strap (not shown) enabling the device to be secured upon the operators hand.

I claim:

l. A knot-tying'de'vice of the class herein referred to comprising, in combination, yarn ends, a body including spaced sides slotted to receive the yarn ends to be tied' together, a hooked instrument which is both `reciprocable and turnable about its longitudinal axis Within the body for engaging the yarn ends and forming the same into knot, severing means in the body for cutting 'the yarn ends close to the formed knot, means for pulling the yarn ends at opposite sides of the said knotv for tightening the latter, and a manually operable member `for initiating conjoint actuation of the hooked instrument and the associated yard severing and knot tightening means.

2. .A knot-tying device according to claim 1, 'which includes means for holding the yarn'ends throughout a knot-tyingoperation.

3. A knot-tying device according to claimv l, vwherein the hooked instrument consists of a knitting needle, e. g. of the latch type.

e. A knot-tying device according to claim l, wherein the hooked instrument is provided with a shank which is formed for intermeshing engagement with toothed members whereby the instrument is moved back and forth longitudinally and turned about its axis.

5. A knot-tying `device of the classr herein re erred to comprising, in combination, a body in- 'cluding spaced sides slotted to receive yarn ends to be tiedtogether, a hooked instrument which -is both reciprocable and turnable about its axis Within the body for engaging the yarn ends and forming the Same into a knot, the 'hooked instrument having a cylindrical shank formed both with a series of spaced annular grooves and intervening circular teeth and also a series oi' longitudinal. grooves and intervening straight teeth, a toothed member. in the form oiga pinion which has its. axis disposed transversely with respect to the saidshank and is arranged in mesh with the circular teeth, a further toothed member in the form of a pinion whichv is disposed with its axis parallel to the shank andarranged in mesh with the straight teeth, severing means in the body for cuttingV the yarn ends close to the formed knot, means for pulling the yarn ends at opposite sides fof the saidv knot for tightening the latter, av manually operable member, and means actuated Vby the 'said member for rotating the aforesaidpinions and also foroperatingthe yarn severing means and the knot tightening means conjointly therewith.

6. A knot-tying device according to claim 5, wherein movements of the toothed members to produce the desired conjoint reciprocation and turning movements of the hooked instrument are effected from rotary cams adapted to be rotated by the manually operable member.

'7. A knot-tying device according to claim 6, wherein there are two rotary cams, viz. one for controlling the movements of the pinion having its axis disposed transversely with respect to the shank of the hooked instrument, and the other for controlling the pinion disposed with its axis parallel to the said shank.

8. A knot-tying device of the class herein referred to comprising, in combination, a body including spaced sides slotted to receive yarn ends to be tied together, a hooked instrument which is both reciprocable and turnable about its axis Within the body for engaging the yarn ends and forming the same into a knot, the said hooked instrument having a cylindrical shank formed both with a series of spaced annular grooves and intervening circular teeth and also a series oi longitudinal grooves and intervening straight teeth, a toothed member in the form of a pinion which has its axis disposed transversely with respect to the said shank and is arranged in mesh with the circular teeth, a further toothed member in the form of a pinion which is disposed with its axis parallel to the shank and arranged in mesh with the straight teeth, rotary cams from which the movements of the pinions are controlled, a pinion turnable together with the said rotary cams, a manually operable member consisting of a pivoted lever, a toothed quadrant provided on the said member and arranged in mesh with the last mentioned pinion, severing means in the body for cutting the yarn ends close to the formed knot, means operable from one oi the rotary cams for actuating the yarn severing means, means for pulling the yarn ends at opposite sides of the knot for tightening tre latter, and means arranged to be operated by the manI ually operable member for actuating the knottightening means.

9. A knot-tying device according to claim 8, wherein each of the said two pinions has associated therewith a further pinion arranged in mesh with the toothed portion of a pivoted lever having a pin-and-slot connection with another pivoted lever adapted to be actuated by the rele-- vant rotary cam. Y n

1'0. A knot-tying device according to claim 8, wherein the manually operable member is innuenced by a spring serving to return all of the cooperating components of the device to their original positions upon release of the said member at the termination of a knot-tying operation.

l1. A knot-tying device according to claim 8, wherein the severing means consists of a movable cutter element provided with shearing blades arranged for co-operation with edges of the yarnreceiving slots in the appropriate side oi the body of the device.

12. A .knot-tying device of the class herein referred to comprising, in combination, a body including spaced sides slotted to receive yarn ends to be tied together, la hooked instrument which is both reciprocable and turnable about its axis within the body for engaging the yarn ends and forming the same into a knot, the said .hooked instrument having a cylindrical shank formed both with a series of spaced annular grooves and intervening circular teeth and also a series of longitudinal grooves and intervening straight teeth, a toothed member in the form of a pinion which has its axis disposed transversely with respect to the said shank and is arranged in mesh with the circular teeth, a further toothed member in the form of a pinion which is disposed with its axis parallel to the shank and arranged in mesh with the straight teeth, rotary cams from which the movements of the pinions are controlled, a pinion turnable together with the said rotary cams, a manually operable member consisting of a pivoted lever, a toothed quadrant provided on the said member and arranged in mesh with the last mentioned pinion, a movable cutter element provided with shearing blades arranged for co-operation with edges of the yarnreceiving slots in one side of the body of the device, a pivoted actuating lever which is connected to the said cutter element and is adapted in turn to be actuated by that rotary cam serving to control the pinion having its axis disposed transversely with respect to the shank of the hooked instrument, means for pulling the yarn ends at opposite sides of the knot for tightening the latter, and means arranged to be operated by the manually operable member for actuating the knot-tightening means.

13. A knot-tying device according to claim 12, wherein the cutter element is pivoted on the said side of the body.

14. A knot-tying device of the class herein referred to comprising, in combination, a body including spaced sides slotted to receive yarn ends to be tied together, a hooked instrument which is both reciprocable and turnable about its axis Wthinthe body for engaging the yarn ends and forming the same into a knot, severing means in the body of cutting the yarn ends close to the formed knot, means for pulling the yarn ends at opposite sides of the said knot for tightening the latter, means for holding the yarn ends throughout a knot-tying operation, the said means being combined with the means for pulling the said ends to tighten a formed knot, and a manually operable member for initiating conjoint actuation of the hooked instrument and the associated yarn severing and knot-tightening means.

15. A knot-tying device according to claim 14, wherein the said combined yarn holding and knot-tying means comprise pairs of spring-influenced grippers which are normally located adjacent to the yarn-receiving slots in the appropriate side of the body of the device to hold the yarn ends during a knot-tying operation, but are adapted to be moved away from the said side to pull the said ends and so tighten the knot at the termination of the operation.

16. A knot-tying device according to claim 15, wherein the yarn grippers are connected and pivotally mounted on the outside of the body, and a lever adapted to be actuated by the manually operable member is provided for swinging Vthe grippers away from the body at the termination of a knot-tying operation.

References cited in the me of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,787,102 Byrd Dec. 30, 1930 1,983,953 Tatlock Dec. 11, 1934 2,000,504 Adrian May '7, 1935 2,114,685 Ramsey Apr. 19, 1938 2,125,423 Bromley et al Aug. 2, 1938 

